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Table of Contents
1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 4
3 Platform ................................................................................................................................ 6
3.1 The Open Interface of the Atoll Platform ................................................................................................... 6
3.2 Advanced Memory Management ............................................................................................................... 7
3.3 Distributed Calculations.............................................................................................................................. 7
3.4 Integrating the Atoll Platform into an Existing Environment ..................................................................... 8
3.4.1 Task Automation ...................................................................................................................................... 9
3.4.2 Customising the Platform ...................................................................................................................... 10
3.4.3 Advanced Customization ....................................................................................................................... 11
3.5 Project Portability ..................................................................................................................................... 12
7 GUI ..................................................................................................................................... 16
7.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................................... 16
7.2 Personalising the Work Space .................................................................................................................. 16
7.3 Working with Objects ............................................................................................................................... 18
7.3.1 Locating objects ..................................................................................................................................... 18
7.3.2 Modifying Objects on the Map .............................................................................................................. 18
7.3.3 Object dedicated commands ................................................................................................................. 19
7.3.4 Working with Zones ............................................................................................................................... 22
9 Summary............................................................................................................................. 24
1 Introduction
Atoll is an open and scalable platform for radio planning and optimisation of mobile technology networks. Atolls
flexible and well-documented platform ensures inter-operability with existing tools and working environments, as
well as support for advanced customisation and task automation. Features such as advanced memory
management and distributing calculations over several computers allow Atoll to make full use of all available HW
resources. Additionally, the GIS, fully integrated into Atoll, offers high performance and complete control of the
project data.
This document explains the above-mentioned features, as well as others, that make Atoll a productive and
efficient tool for planning mobile networks.
Advanced Platform o The platform allows for complex and seamless customisation
Customisation on the interface level and GUI level.
Full GIS Integration within o The GIS is tightly integrated into the platform, providing
the Platform advanced object-oriented features.
Multi-session Multi-project o The user has the option of opening multiple projects in a single
Support session or run separate sessions at the same time.
Advanced GUI Featuring the o The GUI is designed with the latest industry-standard features
Latest Advancements in not found in other radio planning software.
Ergonomics
3 Platform
Atoll radio network planning and optimisation software (RNPO) is based on an open platform, the Atoll core,
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common to all technologies modelled. Technology modules, 3 party products, and custom features all run on top
of the Atoll core.
Atoll is built around an object-oriented architecture, which complies with the Microsoft COM (Component Object
Model) standard. An Atoll configuration consists of several COM binary components -called Atoll extensions- which
communicate with each other through a standardised abstract interface.
Any additional extensions are automatically integrated in the Atoll installation and do not require any
modifications to the existing components.
All Atoll optional modules - 3G, microwave, measurements, AFP, ACP - are implemented as extensions, as are
propagation models, coverage plots, and data access functions.
Seamless integration of proprietary or third party modules through an open and fully documented
Application Programming Interface (API).
• Dynamic sampling: Objects are dynamically re-sampled based on needed information for optimum memory
allocation.
• Incremental memory allocation: Memory is allocated on demand during the calculation process and freed
when the data is no longer needed.
• Automatic partitioning and recombination of large plots: Atoll divides very large plots into temporary files
and recombines them automatically when the calculated data exceed the available physical memory.
designated computers in the network to share the heavy task of calculating path loss matrices. Combined with
multi-threading, this feature can use allocated HW computation power (for example, 4 servers with 16 cores will
allow for 64 concurrent path loss calculations).
The Atoll database can be customised to include customer-specific data. Moreover, the Atoll database can be
connected with other databases (for example, rollout database, OMC-R database, etc.).
External applications can be interfaced with Atoll platform. The network operator has, therefore, the option of
keeping its existing tools and having them integrated with a central platform: Atoll.
• Database level integration: The Atoll Central Database can be connected with other databases and
synchronised either on regular basis or real-time.
• Application level integration: External applications can be integrated into Atoll GUI using the Atoll SDK.
• Functional level integration: Internal data processing procedures, including import and export, can be
implemented using Atoll macros.
The following example shows a common integration case. The Atoll database is customised to include additional
information from the roll-out database. The data is updated on a regular basis.
The central Atoll database is divided into regions, allowing the users to work on their designated regions while
taking into account the sites in the neighbouring regions.
Task automation scripts ensure that the Atoll database is up to date and that pre-defined coverage plots are
generated on a regular basis to be published on the web or an intranet.
An AFP tool is can be connected with the Atoll platform to run new frequency allocations based on Atoll data.
An ACP tool is integrated into Atoll providing optimisation scenarios that can be then analysed in Atoll’s
technology-specific modules.
The Atoll platform was built with task automation in mind. Task automation is available, for example, for the
following calculations:
• Coverage plots
• Simulations
This task can be automated using a simple script. The script can be written directly in the Atoll interface. The script
is scheduled using the Windows Task Scheduler to run on a regular basis.
More often than not, network operators need to implement a specific feature in their RNPO tool. These features
range from simple calculations to sophisticated processing algorithms. The Atoll platform offers the possibility of
integrating macros in the interface in order to accommodate the need to implement additional functionality into
the tool. The macros can access the Atoll API objects with their methods and properties.
Figure 4 shows an example of a macro for displaying the number of TRX configuration changes required based on
traffic evolution. The macro can be integrated in Atoll toolbar using an icon. The custom-defined field holds the
calculation data and allows the coverage to be coloured using its value.
Figure 5: VB script to calculate the number of TRXs to be changed in each sector and the user-defined icon in the
tool bar to launch the custom script
The Atoll C++ Development Kit provides a set of programmable extensions enabling users to enhance the already
rich functionalities available in Atoll. The Atoll C++ Development Kit is based on a set of objects allowing
communication between Atoll and external modules via the Atoll API.
The Atoll C++ Development Kit presents a powerful way of customizing Atoll. The integration modules range from
exporting data to Google Earth to integrating additional complex modules like propagation models, ACPs, AFPs,
indoor propagation solutions, and interfaces to OMC-Rs.
Data structure, GUI, network settings, and calculation results are made available for use in custom modules.
Custom modules can be seamlessly integrated into Atoll and have the possibility to provide additional GUIs. In
Figure 5 there is an example of integrating multi-storey calculation features in Atoll. The plug-in appears as a new
Atoll tool bar item with an associated set of options. This module uses the Atoll platform to calculate the coverage
plots for different floor levels and display the resulting plots.
• Data can be linked to the main project file and the Save to zip feature will assemble all links upon saving and
recreate the folder structure when the project file is reopened from the zipped archive. This is completely
transparent to the user and the project can be saved in the user’s chosen location.
Multiple versions of Atoll can be installed on the same computer without any limitations or software conflicts. Old
projects can be opened and viewed with newer versions of Atoll or converted to a newer version by simply saving
it with the new version, all completely transparently to the user.
Some RNPO use the radial approach, instead of the matrix calculation approach. The radial mode used by these
tools makes unnecessary calculations and the accuracy of the calculations decreases with distance. In fact, there is
no correlation between the accuracy of the geo data and the accuracy of the results given by the radial mode. This
can be shown using a simple example. Let’s take a typical geo data resolution of 20 m. If you calculate path loss
using the radial mode and a step 1 degree step, you will have 1.75 m distance between the neighbouring bins at a
distance of 100 m, and 610.9 m at a distance of 35 km. In this example, close to the site you will have several
unnecessary calculations (every 1.75 m compared to the 20 m resolution of the geo data) and far from the site the
accuracy will not be sufficient (calculations every 610.9 m compared to the 20 m resolution of the geo data). On
the other hand, a matrix calculation method will provide values every 20 m, matching the geo data of the project.
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d2
l1
d1
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Atoll supports:
• Geo data with multiple resolutions and transparency for DTM and clutter data
• Multiple path loss calculations per sector using the dual resolution option
• Coverage plots with multiple resolutions (independent of the resolution of the path loss matrices)
The flexible multi-resolution support gives the possibility of balancing the accuracy, the visual quality and
calculation performance.
Atoll enables the user to calculate path loss matrices of two resolutions when it is advantageous to trade reduced
accuracy far from the site accuracy for calculation speed.
6.1 Overview
The GIS in a planning tool plays an important role because the user spends most of his time working directly with
the data on the map.
Atoll is based on its own proprietary GIS. The geographic information can be stored in several ways: embedded in
the project file, stored locally on the same computer, or stored remotely on the network server.
The user can import geo data, vector or raster, by dragging and dropping the data into Atoll project, whether the
data be a single file or a set of files defined by a selection or an index file.
Any geo data contained in an Atoll project can be exported in any supported format. This includes geo data that
has been modified in Atoll. Additionally, coverage predictions and other data generated by Atoll can be exported
as geo data in any supported format.
A dynamic sampling algorithm is used to improve memory management and display. The geo data is loaded based
on the zoom level and is dynamically re-sampled to load only necessary information. In other words, a country-
wide DTM is never fully loaded into the memory: when displayed on a large scale it is loaded at a lower resolution;
when displayed over a smaller area, it is displayed at a much higher resolution. In this way, large geo files can be
loaded into the project while maintaining high display performance.
The GIS is designed to handle the geo data types, formats and volumes specific to the radio network
planning and optimisation tool
The Atoll GIS is specifically designed to perform tasks targeted at radio planning and optimisation
Advanced memory management algorithms are used to handle large volumes of data.
The Atoll GIS is tightly integrated into the platform, allowing advanced object- oriented functions.
As developer of both Atoll and its GIS, Forsk has full control, ensuring that the corrections and
improvements to the GIS are keep its use easy and smooth.
7 GUI
7.1 Overview
The Atoll graphical user interface (GUI) is designed using the latest technological advancements in ergonomics and
software development. The GUI supports multiple tabs, object-oriented commands, full screen mode, and other
advanced features.
Data and parameters are presented in logical and structured way, ensuring easy access to all elements of the radio
planning project.
Locating objects on map, in the explorer and in tables is designed to be straightforward and simple.
For example, when selecting a network object on the map, the corresponding item in the explorer is automatically
selected.
Figure 13: Selecting an object on the map automatically selects the corresponding item in the explorer
Atoll’s dedicated GIS allows objects on the map to be manipulated instinctively. For example, repositioning a
sector and changing its bearing can be done directly on the map using the mouse.
Another example of full integration of the GIS and planning features, is defining multi-technology neighbour
relations directly on the map.
Figure 15: Creating a Neighbour Plan in a GSM/UMTS/LTE Network Using the Mouse
The Atoll platform, because of its own integrated GIS, provides access to objects with context-sensitive right-click
menus. For example, when the user needs to with a given sector on the map the context menu will provide all
available commands dedicated to this sector only.
When working with a large number of elements in a project, many tasks must be repeated multiple times. While
analysing data and making modifications, the user needs to be able to make a quick glimpse at the details of
objects on the map. In Atoll, the tool tip feature can provide this information with a great level of flexibility.
Moving pointer over the map object in question displays a tool tip with the information the user has chosen to
display.
Figure 18: Tool tip displayed over multiple transparent layers at the position of the pointer
Because Atoll implements its own GIS, it has complete control of the GIS and can easily display the information
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needed for planning and optimization in its status bar. On the other hand, RNPO software based on 3 party GIS
does not have full fully control over what information it can retrieve from the GIS; and the status bar will display
information related to the GIS, not to radio planning.
Atoll offers an advanced way of working with tabular data: Atoll data grid. It uses industry standard behaviour
across all Atoll tables allowing the user to update, filter, import, export and other data operations in a productive
and intuitive manner. All Atoll tables are viewed and edited using the Atoll data grid – a generic grid interface
dedicated to data editing.
Atoll presents all the standard usability features that the user has come to expect from any modern computer
application.
The user can modify the tree structure of the Atoll explorer window according to user-defined settings (for
example, grouping data by customer-defined regions, equipment vendor, antenna type, etc.). Multiple sub-
grouping is also possible.
The industry standards respected by Atoll ensure, for example, that the user can copy from Atoll into another
application, such as MS Word, MS Excel, or Notepad, or from an external source into Atoll. For example, Atoll
enables the user to easily copy all antennas and their patterns from an MS Excel file into the Atoll Antennas table.
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Atoll Highlights
The multiple Undo and Redo for modifications to map objects or data tables provide the convenience of being able
to roll back changes and then, if desired, to redo some or all of those changes, returning to a point of the user’s
choosing.
Very often, the large amount of data on the map needs to be filtered in order to exclude information unnecessary
to the task at hand. The user can perform a targeted analysis on a restricted set of data or on a specific area using
specific Atoll zones. In the following example, sites and sectors need to be filtered in a specific geographic region
defined by a polygon. In Figure 21 and Figure 22, two different ways of defining a filter polygon are presented:
Other zones, such as the Geographic Export zone, the Focus zone, the Computation zone, the Printing zone, and
the Hot Spots can be defined in the same way.
Atoll models the amplifier back-off and the bearer selection thresholds at the LTE equipment level. This means that
Atoll is capable of handling equipment having different performance levels. Atoll’s modelling accommodates multi-
vendor equipment and equipment with differing levels of performance.
User-defined quality indicators can also be added to an LTE project and analysed in Atoll.
Atoll has advanced modelling of LTE equipment both on the network side and on the user terminal side.
Atoll simulations enable the modelling of network mechanisms for minimising interference and maximising
capacity.
The radio resource management and scheduling algorithms in a multi-RAT GSM/UMTS/LTE network automatically
select the most suitable technology and related resource allocation for users. The objective is to distribute the
users across supporting technologies according to their capability and priority level. The resource usage is
optimised within cells according to the radio conditions at user locations. Atoll calculates, for each user
distribution (during random trial), the different network parameters such as the mobile activity, received power
levels, CINR levels, antenna diversity modes, best radio bearer available for the calculated CINR, required
resources to satisfy the committed and maximum throughput demands, and user throughputs after the resource
allocation. As outputs, Atoll provides the traffic loads which can then be assigned to the different cells and then
CINR coverage can be performed based on realistic simulation results.
9 Summary
Atoll implements an open and flexible platform allowing data and application level integration. Advanced
algorithms are employed for calculating, displaying, and handling high volumes of data. The Atoll platform can be
flexible or it can be secured in terms of data and the user actions that can be performed using the software.
The Atoll GUI uses the latest technological advances to provide a highly ergonomic and flexible working
environment for radio planners and optimisation engineers. A dedicated GIS provides a high degree of integration
when it comes to radio planning and optimisation tasks. The time needed to configure the radio planning tool has
been significantly reduced. Entering the necessary information into Atoll and producing the final calculation results
using the tool has been made intuitive and fast.
With the Atoll LTE module, the user has sophisticated equipment and network modelling, along with the inter-
technology capabilities provided by the inter-technology Monte-Carlo simulator and co-planning features.